While we’d all like to be in the sea for the year, Irish temperatures and daylight hours mean the pool is a necessary evil.
Some people have taken it a bit too far, though, and gone for training sessions in Douglas Pool on Wednesdays, with Ms. Cashell in command – no slacking there.
Clodagh, Joleen, Siobhan & Gary – disciples of Sensei Cashell – ‘The Mean One’.
There’s a group in the sea today, Thursday, at 4.30pm and the usual swim at 08.15 on Saturday morning. All welcome, as ever.
8.6°c on Wednesday and 8.7°c in the water on Thursday, plus it was calm enough to swim to the Dutchman. Still a good mix of swimmers sticking with Winter sea swimming and enjoying it. We also hear tell of sneaky extra training sessions in the pool in Douglas. Some people are getting fierce serious 🙂
Usual 08.15 swim tomorrow, Saturday. Forecast looks ok.
As ever, a couple of fantastic pictures from Siobhan Russell during the week.
High tide at Fennell’s Bay.
The Dutchman throws up some waves
See you in the sea!
Or – if brisk and bracing don’t cover it for you – try chilly, crisp, toasty (Mr. Finbarr only) or just plain cold.
Temperatures were 7.9c in the water on St. Stephen’s Day and 7.7c this morning for the usual Saturday swim. With -2c on land this morning, a combined 5.7c did justify “brisk”.
The fact that we’re swimming at dawn means not only that we are getting the best of the cold (!) – unlike those on gentlemen’s hours further West – but also the best of the views. Owen O’Keeffe was up from Fermoy after his Blackwater dip on Christmas Day and he got this lovely one on St. Stephen’s Day..
Dawn in Myrtleville, St. Stephen’s Day, 2013
Nine swimmers on Thursday and ten today – great to see. There’s nothing like the buzz.
Jim Shaloo gets ready to go on St. Stephen’s Day.
For those not back at work, we’ll aim for 08.15 on Monday, Dec. 30. Forecast looks reasonable – there’ll definitely be a calm bit!
With Monday nights finished, Saturday at 8.15am is the only set time for the week during the Winter. Despite the worst possible forecast, we had a great turn-out on this weekend, with seventeen swimmers venturing in.
Maeve Mulcahy took this picture, showing that swimming to the Dutchman wasn’t advisable, but we had a “calm bit” of 300 metres that was enjoyable.
Myrtleville – Saturday, November 2, 2013: a bit of texture on the water….
We checked afterwards and were sure everyone had got out safely, so it was a bit of a shock to see a few extras were washed up and displayed on the wall of Jimmy Long’s:
Myrtleville Slimmers – 12.2C in the water, but this crowd felt the cold…..
There’s a night out open to all swimmers on Saturday next at 8pm in Bunny’s and Turkey Swims on Saturday and Sunday in Sandycove. Sea swimming is a year-round sport!
Hard to believe it’s over for another year. We had a huge increase in numbers for Myrtleville Mondays this year, but there was only a hard core left, on a bad night for the last one.
Last Monday of 2013 – just three swimmers – Tom McCarthy, Bernard Lynch & John Russell – with Denis Condon: 21/10/2013.
Anne Sheehy brought her camera and got a couple of pictures. I think she was using the Siobhan Russell Technique for rough days (“No, I’m not going in there – someone has to take the pictures…..on you go, the rest of you……and remember to smile for the camera…..”).
Tom McCarthy braves the waves – 21/1o/2013.
John Russell & Bernard Lynch – it does look a bit lumpy…21/10/2013.
See you all on Monday, March 31, 2014. Only 160 Days to go 🙂
It’s so busy at the beach, we’re working in shifts. First group in on Saturday was for Gary Frost’s birthday sunrise swim, with full outdoor catering afterwards.
Gary Frost’s birthday group – too many to name, but that’s Gary with the balloon on the far left and Lemmy the Dog is there too.
Second shift was just in time for the ferry to pass. Welcome back to Maeve and welcome to David Dineen, who moved to Crosshaven recently.
David Dineen, Ciaran Byrne, Rob “it’s much easier to get parking in Sandycove” Bohane, Bernard Lynch, Damian O’Neill, Maeve Mulcahy, Eddie Irwin and Neddy “hurry up, it’s cold” Irwin.
The third shift got creative and took one car to Fountainstown, then swam back to Myrtleville.
Ross O’Connor, Keith Hyde, Aidan Mangan & Kieran Callinan.
A standard time of 8.15am on Saturdays will run throughout the Winter. It’s over 15c in the water, so it’s not time to even think about cold water yet.
If you’re looking to swim with others and don’t have a group, that’s the time to aim for. Everyone welcome.
Jim Shaloo modelling the latest Myrtleville early morning headwear.
The picture is a bit blurry – you’d know Siobhan wasn’t around. You’d also know it’s time to finish the morning swims when:
It’s a shame, because the water is at 15.2c – toasty, as Mr. Finbarr would say – but it’s just too dark. So, four more Monday evenings at 6pm and Saturdays at 8.15am continuing for the Winter.
Planned swim times for Myrtleville Beach. These are the times most likely that a group will assemble. Email myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com if you’re interested any day. Or tweet @Berlyn1966.
These times can vary earlier or later, so definitely check in advance if you’re coming on your own. Swim at your own risk. Don’t swim alone. Always swim in groups.
No morning swim planned on Saturday, 21st September – Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim.
2012 Myrtleville – Church Bay Swim participants (pic Howard Crowdy)
The weather is keeping the beach quieter, so we’ll head back to normal tonight – Myrtleville at 6.00pm, not Church Bay.
Myrtleville – Monday @ 6.00pm
Myrtleville attracts large crowds in sunshine. Crowds who don’t seem to be able to take their rubbish home with them, but that’s another story.
On sunny Monday evenings, Church Bay is a quieter, less crowded option. There has been a group there lately on Mondays at 6.00pm, as well as at Myrtleville. So, a choice, as long as it’s not too windy as Church Bay is more open than Myrtleville.
Church Bay, Monday July 8, 2013 – calm and quiet.
Myrtleville Swimmers 